Index device



Dec. 17, 1929( J RAND 1,740,118

INDEX DEVICE V Original Filed May 24, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 17,1929. J. H. RAND 1,740,113

INDEX DEVICE Original Filed May 24, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 17, 1929 V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES H. RAND, OF NORTH. FALMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO REMINGTON RAND ING., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE INDEX DEVICE Application filed May 24, 1924, Serial No. 715,611.

This invention relates to index devices of the type wherein a series of index holders are hinged to swing on a support so that they may be readily manipulated somewhat after the manner of the leaves of a book when it is desired to inspect, or to insert or to remove the index units.

The objects of the invention are to provide an index device having parts or units which are independently movable so that several persons may inspect the index at one time without interferring with each other; and so that a single operator may simultaneously display selected portions of the units before him to enable the index holders tobe secured in a frame so that they may swing about substantially vertical pivots and in such a manner that one or more holders may be removed at one time; and to provide an index frame having certain novel features hereinafter described.

The genus of the invention is illustrated by the concrete embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an index device constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section showing an index holder secured to a frame;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the manner in which the holders are removed from the frames; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section showing the mounting for the top frame.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is illustrated in one preferred embodiment in which an upright post 1 is provided with threaded end portions 2 and 3, and the lower end portion 2 is connected to a supporting base 4 by means of nuts 5. A pair of index frames A and B are mounted in superposed relation on the post 1, and are adapted to rotate thereon. These frames are of like construction and consist of a top circular disc 6 and a similar bottom disc 7 which are integrally joined by a central tubular connecting rod 8. The outer portions of the discs Renewed August 6, 1926.

are braced by rods 9 which are screwed opposed faces of the discs 6 and 7.

The frames A and B are rotatable on the post 1 independently of each other and for this purpose the lower frame A is mounted on anti-friction bearings 11 which lie in an annular recess 12 in the bottom disc 7 and the upper race 11 for the bearings 11 bears against the bottomof the recess 12. A ring 13 surrounds the post 1 and is mounted on the base 4 to provide a support for the lower race 13. The upper frame B is likewise mounted on anti-friction bearings 14 which lie in a recess 15 in bottom face of the disc 7 and the lower race 14 is mounted on a ring 16. The ring 16 is supported on a split ring 17 mounted in an annular groove 18 in the post 1. The upper race 16 for the bearings 14 bears into against the bottom of the recess 15. Nuts 19 are threaded on the upper end 8 of the post 1 to hold the frame B in place and lie in a recess in the upper face of the disc 6.

In order to support index holders in the frames A and B, the lower faces of the top discs 6 are formed with an annular series of pockets 21 adjacent the outer edge thereof separated from each other by webs 22. The upper faces of the bottom discs 7 are also formed with an annular series of pockets 23 which are not as deep as the pockets 21 and are spaced from each other by webs 24. The pockets 21 and 28 are of equal length and a pocket in the lower disc directly corresponds to a pocket in the upper disc.

The index holders 25 are in the form of panels having opposed flanges 26 and 27 forming channels for receiving the index slips 40 on which desired indicia 41 are inscribed and having tabs 28 ordinarily bearing initials to indicate the names or subject-matter of the index slips which are normally concealed by said holders due to the face-to-face position thereof. The index holders 25 are provided with pintles or arms 29 and 30 at their opposite ends, the pintles 29 are slightly longer than the pintles 30. The index holders are mounted in the frames by inserting the pintles 29 into the pockets 21 and moving them upwardly until the pintles 30 can be swung in wardly and inserted in the pockets 21. The

holders are supported on the lower pintles 30 and the upper pintles 29 extend a slight distance into the pockets 21 so that the holders may swing about substantially vertical axes. The webs 22 and 24 space one series of index holders 25 from another series and prevent them from assuming inclined positions in the frames.

Rings 31 surround the periphery of the top discs 6 and are adapted to prevent the index holders 25 from being accidentally removed from the frames A and B. The rings3i are provided with cam slots 32 which are movable on screws 33 fastened to the discs 6. Lugs 34 are secured to the rings 31 to enable the rings to be conveniently rotated through a part of a revolution. By rotating the rings 31 in' a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 2) the screws 33 guided in the cam slots 32 cause the ring tomo-ve upwardly away from the :index holders and thereby permit one or more index holders to be removed fromthe frames, as-indicated in Fig. 4. Rotation of the rings 31 in the opposite direction causes them to move downwardly by means of the slots 32 and screws 33 and thereby prevent the index holders from being lifted upwardly and with- 'drawnfrom the frames (Fig, 3). The index frames A and B'can be rotated independently of each other and'the index holders are prevented from being accidentally removed therefrom as above pointed out. 'aremanipulated somewhat afterthe manner of the leaves of a book about substantially vertical axes when it'is desired to inspect, al ter the index slips or for any other reason. In applying-theinvention to an alphabetical index a portion of the alphabet is carried by one frame and another portion by the other frame, whereby different operators may operatesimultaneously in the-respective portionof the ind-ex without interfering with each other: and-the index may bedivided into as many sections as desired by providing the desired number of separately rotating frames.

-I claimr:

1. An index device comprising an upright frame having'spaced members formed with annular series of elongated recesses in opposed faces thereof, a plurality of index holders having pintles adapted to be received by each of said recesses to swing about substantially vertical axes, said index holders being slidable in said recesses, and a ring member concentric with one of said members and loosely mounted thereon adapted to extend over a portion of said holders to prevent removal of the holders from the frames, said ring member being movable away from the holders to permit removal of one-or more holders. from the frame.

2. :An-index device comprising a frame having spaced members, a rod connecting said a members, said members being formed with :pockets in opposing faces thereof, index hold- The holders ers having portions extending into said pockets to swing about substantially vertical axes, and a ring for locking the index holders on said frame, said ring having a cam slot cooperable with a pin on said frame whereby rotative movement of saidring in one direction actuates it toa position to permitthe-removal ofone or more holders.

spaced apart annular track members, a phi-1.

rality of index leaves detachably engaged thereby for slidlng movement thereon longitudinally of said track members and for rotating movement thereon, and vertically movable means to preventtheaccidental .disengagement ofthe leaves from. said track members without interfering'with the movements thereof.

5. In an index or file, a supporting device for index leaves or the like, comprising spaced apart track members having annular grooves, a plurality of indexleaves having extension members detachably engaged by said grooves, and means'to prevent theaccidental disengagement of the leaves from said track members, said means being verticaliy movable into and out of operative position.

6. In an index or file, a supporting device for index leaves of the type described, com prising spaced apart index leaf arm engaging members, said members being adaptedtoislid ingly retain a plurality of leaves thereon, and

means vertically 'movable toward said members to prevent the disengagement of said leaves therefrom without interfering with the sliding movement thereof.

7. In an index or file, a supporting device for index leaves or the like comprising a pair of leaf arm engaging members, said members being adapted to rotatably and slidingly retain aplurality of leaves thereon, and means vertically movable toward said members to prevent the disengagement of said leaves therefrom without interfering with the rotating and sliding movement of said leaves thereon.

8. In an index or file, a supporting device for index leaves or the like comprising a pair of spaced apart members, said members being provided with means to detachably-engage extending arm portions ofan index'leaf, and cam operatedmembers adapted to prevent disengagement of saidleaf with said-spaced apart members,

9. In an index device,-a horizontally-rotatable supporting frame member having relatively long grooves therein, a plurality of separately insertable and removable index holders having supporting parts pivotally engaging in said grooved portion whereby said holders may be carried around bodily by said supporting member, or shifted in said grooved portion lengthwise thereof relative to said supporting member, or swung angularly with respect to said supporting member on its supporting parts, and means for releasably locking said index holders in engagement with said supporting member.

10. In an index device, a shaft adapted to be supported in a vertical position, a circular support member rotatably supported by said shaft and provided with an annular groove adjacent its periphery, a plurality of webs dividing said groove into arcuate pockets, and a plurality of index panels having pintles adapted to be pivotally received in said pockets so that said panels are spaced apart in arcuate groups adjacent said pintles.

11. In an index or file, a supporting device for index leaves or the like comprising a member provided with a groove adjacent the outer edge thereof, an index leaf provided with an extended portion adapted to engage said member within said groove, and a member disposed adjacent the groove in said first mentioned member, and movable into position to prevent disengagement of said leaf extended portion with said first mentioned member.

12. An index or file, comprising an upright post, a pair of bearing members mounted on said post in spaced relation, frame members mounted on said bearing members and encircling said post for rotation thereon, each frame member being provided with a recess adjacent said post to receive and provide a housing for said bearing members, said recesses in said frame member and the spacing of said bearing members being predetermined whereby the edge of one frame member will be closely contiguous but out of contact with the adjacent end of the other frame member, said frame members being adapted to completely house and conceal said bearing members within said recesses, and index holders mounted on said frame members, the index holders on one frame member being in end to end relation with the index holders on the adjacent frame member and closely adj acent thereto through the adjacent relation obtained between the frame members.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this sixteenth day of May, 1924.

JAMES H. RAND. 

